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Please read and drink responsibly.
Classification: Blend of Straight Bourbons
Company: Barrell Craft Spirits
Distillery: Sourced from undisclosed distilleries in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Wyoming, New York, Texas, Ohio, and Maryland
Release Date: December 2024
Proof: 112.1
Age: Undisclosed blend of bourbons ranging from 5-15 years old:
-Kentucky: 5, 6, & 9 years old
-Indiana: 5, 6, 7, 11, & 12 years old
-Tennessee: 8, 9, & 15 years old
-Wyoming: 9 & 12 years old
-New York: 5 years old
-Texas: 5 years old
-Ohio: 5 years old
-Maryland: 6 & 7 years old
Mashbill: 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 4% Malted Barley, 1% Wheat (Derived from the blend)
Color: Bright Rose Gold
MSRP: $90 / 750mL (2025)
Bright summer fruits | Pear | Orange peel | Honeysuckle | Light caramel
Wave of cinnamon | Baking spices | Dried apricot | Raisin | Caramel
Baking spices | Apple peel | Citrus zest | Light aged oak | Pipe tobacco | Savory on the backend
Barrell Craft Spirits’ Barrell Bourbon New Year 2025 is a finely-tuned blend of 18 bourbons originating from eight states.
Barrell Bourbon New Year is a fun release from Barrell Craft Spirits. Released annually in December in celebration of the new year, the bourbons have been increasingly complex blends bringing together components from various states and age ranges. Last year’s release included 12 whiskeys spanning eight states, and this year’s includes whiskeys from the same eight states, but increases the number of whiskeys in the blend to 18.
True to form, the bourbon comes together extremely well, which is no small feat. Tasting bourbons from various states sometimes reveals similarities from the region. Kentucky bourbons tend to taste more traditional, Texas bourbons are often full-flavored and more heavily oaked, Tennessee is often identifiable Cascade Hollow distillate, New York produces some unique flavors, and so on. Identifying them isn’t a perfect science, but Barrell has been able to bring many of these flavors together to create something unique and approachable with their New Year Bourbon releases over the past few years.
Barrell Bourbon New Year 2025 starts with a soiree of fruits on the nose that’s underscored by honeysuckle and light caramel. A wave of cinnamon spice on the palate transitions towards more general baking spices before settling on sweeter flavors of raisin, dried apricot, and caramel. More baking spices on the finish give way to an ending with tapering fruit flavors that surprisingly turn savory, giving way to light aged oak and pipe tobacco.
Barrell Craft Spirits has increased the quality and complexity of their New Year releases over the years, and this year edges out last year’s as their best one yet. It manages to walk the fine line between familiar and entirely unique at the same time. With layers of subtle complexity, Barrell Bourbon New Year 2025 is a perfect bourbon to ring in the new year.
